CUET UG 2026: Common University Entrance Test for Undergraduate Admissions (NTA)
The National Testing Agency (NTA) has released the official notification and information bulletin for the Common University Entrance Test (Undergraduate) 2026, popularly known as CUET UG 2026, for admission to Undergraduate programmes in Central Universities and other participating Universities across India for the academic session 2026–27. CUET UG 2026 will provide a single-window opportunity to students seeking admission into multiple universities through one common entrance examination.
About CUET UG 2026
The Common University Entrance Test (CUET) UG is a national-level entrance examination conducted by NTA for admission to Undergraduate programmes in Central Universities and participating State, Deemed and Private Universities. The CUET score is used by universities for preparing their own merit lists and conducting counselling and admissions. NTA’s role is limited to conducting the examination and declaring the result.
Academic Session Covered
Admissions through CUET UG 2026 will be for the academic session 2026–27.
Participating Universities
CUET UG 2026 scores will be used by all Central Universities and many other participating universities and institutions across India. Each university will separately announce its counselling schedule, merit list and admission process after the CUET UG 2026 result.
Courses Covered
CUET UG 2026 is conducted for admission to Undergraduate degree programmes offered by participating universities. The exact list of programmes and subject requirements varies from university to university.
Eligibility Criteria
For appearing in CUET UG 2026, there is no age limit. Candidates who have passed Class 12 or equivalent examination or are appearing in 2026 are eligible to appear in CUET UG 2026. However, candidates must satisfy the age limit, subject combination, and other eligibility conditions of the university and programme to which they are seeking admission. Eligibility conditions may differ for each university and each programme, and candidates are advised to check the respective university websites before applying.
Qualifying examinations include Class 12 from any recognized board, Intermediate or Pre-University examination, NIOS Senior Secondary examination, IB, Cambridge, and other equivalent examinations as recognized by UGC/AIU.
Number of Subjects and Choice of Subjects
CUET UG 2026 will cover a total of 37 subjects, which include 13 languages, 23 domain-specific subjects, and 1 General Aptitude Test. These subjects are grouped into three sections, and candidates must carefully choose their subjects based strictly on the eligibility requirements of the university and the undergraduate programme they wish to apply for.
A candidate can select a maximum of five (05) subjects in total across all sections combined. This limit of five subjects includes languages, domain subjects, and the General Aptitude Test together. There is no separate limit for each section; the overall cap is five test papers only.
The three sections are explained below:
Section IA and IB (Languages):
This section contains 13 language subjects, including English, Hindi, Assamese, Bengali, Gujarati, Kannada, Malayalam, Marathi, Odia, Punjabi, Tamil, Telugu, and Urdu. Candidates may choose any language as per the requirement of the university and the programme. Many universities require at least one language paper, and some programmes specifically require English or a particular regional language.
Section II (Domain-Specific Subjects):
This section consists of 23 domain-specific subjects such as Physics, Chemistry, Mathematics, Biology, Accountancy, Economics, Business Studies, History, Political Science, Geography, Psychology, Sociology, Computer Science, Informatics Practices, and other subjects as notified in the official CUET UG 2026 subject list. Candidates must choose domain subjects that match the subject requirements of the undergraduate programme they want to apply for. For example, a candidate applying for B.Sc. Physics may be required to choose Physics and Mathematics, while a candidate applying for B.Com may be required to choose Accountancy and/or Mathematics.
Section III (General Aptitude Test):
This section contains only one paper, the General Aptitude Test. This test assesses General Knowledge, Current Affairs, Quantitative Reasoning, Logical and Analytical Reasoning. Some universities and programmes use the General Aptitude Test score for admission, especially for multidisciplinary or general degree programmes.
Important Rules and Clarifications:
- The maximum number of test papers that can be chosen is five only.
- These five can be any combination of languages, domain subjects, and the General Aptitude Test, depending on the programme requirements.
- Candidates are not restricted to the subjects they studied in Class 12, but they must follow the eligibility conditions of the university and the programme.
- The responsibility of choosing the correct subject combination lies entirely with the candidate. If a wrong combination is chosen, the university may cancel the candidature at the admission stage.
- Each university may have different subject requirements for the same course name, so candidates must check the admission brochure of each university before finalising their CUET subject choices.
- NTA does not verify subject eligibility for any specific university. It only conducts the examination.
Illustrative Examples:
- A candidate applying for B.A. (Honours) in History may choose: English + History + Political Science + Geography + General Test.
- A candidate applying for B.Sc. (Physics) may choose: English + Physics + Mathematics + Chemistry + one more relevant subject or General Test.
- A candidate applying for B.Com may choose: English + Accountancy + Mathematics + Business Studies + General Test.
Candidates must first decide the universities and courses they want to apply for, then check the exact subject requirements on the university websites, and only after that should they select their CUET UG 2026 subject combination in the application form.
Medium of Examination
The examination will be conducted in 13 languages: English, Hindi, Assamese, Bengali, Gujarati, Kannada, Malayalam, Marathi, Odia, Punjabi, Tamil, Telugu, and Urdu.
Mode of Examination
CUET UG 2026 will be conducted in Computer Based Test (CBT) mode only.
Exam Pattern
Each test paper will consist of 50 multiple-choice questions. All questions are compulsory. The duration of each test paper will be 60 minutes.
Marking Scheme
For each correct answer, 5 marks will be awarded. For each incorrect answer, 1 mark will be deducted. Unattempted questions will carry zero marks. In case a question is dropped or found incorrect, full marks will be awarded to all candidates.
Important Dates for CUET UG 2026
| Online Application Start Date | 03 January 2026 |
| Last Date to Apply Online | 30 January 2026 (up to 11:50 PM) |
| Last Date for Fee Payment | 31 January 2026 (up to 11:50 PM) |
| Application Correction Window | 02 February to 04 February 2026 |
| Announcement of Exam City | To be announced |
| Admit Card Release | To be announced |
| Date of Examination | 11 May to 31 May 2026 (Tentative) |
| Display of Answer Key | To be announced |
| Declaration of Result | To be announced |
Application Fee
The application fee depends on the number of subjects selected.
| Category | Up to 3 Subjects | For Each Additional Subject |
|---|---|---|
| General (UR) | ₹1000 | ₹400 |
| OBC-NCL / EWS | ₹900 | ₹375 |
| SC / ST / PwD / Third Gender | ₹800 | ₹350 |
| Centres outside India | ₹4500 | ₹1800 |
Processing charges and GST will be charged extra by the payment gateway.
How to Apply
Candidates must apply online only through the official CUET website. The application process includes registration, filling of personal and academic details, selection of universities and subjects, uploading of documents, and payment of application fee. Multiple applications by the same candidate are not allowed.
Admit Card
Admit cards will be issued online through the NTA website. Candidates must download and print the admit card and carry it to the examination centre along with a valid photo ID.
Exam Schedule and Shifts
The examination will be conducted in multiple shifts depending on the number of candidates and subject combinations. The exact date, shift and timing will be mentioned on the admit card.
Result and NTA Score
The CUET UG 2026 result will be prepared based on the final answer key. NTA Score will be valid only for admission in the academic session 2026–27. No re-evaluation or re-checking of result will be allowed.
Counselling and Admission Process
Merely appearing in CUET UG 2026 does not guarantee admission. Each participating university will prepare its own merit list and conduct its own counselling and admission process based on CUET UG 2026 score and other eligibility conditions. Candidates must apply separately on the websites of the universities where they want admission.
Official Website
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